Ezekiel 17:9

17:9 “‘Say to them: This is what the sovereign Lord says:

“‘Will it prosper?

Will he not rip out its roots

and cause its fruit to rot¹ and wither?

All its foliage² will wither.

No strong arm or large army

will be needed to pull it out by its roots.³

Ezekiel 20:31

20:31 When you present your sacrifices⁴ – when you make your sons pass through the fire – you defile yourselves with all your idols to this very day. Will I allow you to seek me,⁵ O house of Israel? As surely as I live, declares the sovereign Lord, I will not allow you to seek me!⁶

¹tn The Hebrew root occurs only here in the OT and appears to have the meaning of “strip off.” In application to fruit the meaning may be “cause to rot.”

²tn Heb “all the טַרְפֵּי (tarpey) of branches.” The word טַרְפֵּי occurs only here in the Bible; its precise meaning is uncertain.

³tn Or “there will be no strong arm or large army when it is pulled up by the roots.”

⁴tn Or “gifts.”

⁵tn Or “Will I reveal myself to you?”

⁶tn Or “I will not reveal myself to you.”